Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is set to leave Napoli this summer, but there is disagreement between the player and the club over his next destination.
According to Sports Mole, Napoli prefer a move that would send Osimhen to English Premier League side Liverpool. However, the 25-year-old forward is more interested in joining Italian giants Juventus.
Osimhen recently returned from a successful loan spell at Galatasaray, where he scored an impressive 37 goals and provided 8 assists in 41 matches across all competitions.
His contract with Napoli ends next summer and includes a €75 million (£64.2 million) release clause. However, the clause reportedly only applies to foreign clubs, meaning Juventus would need to negotiate a separate deal with Napoli.
Italian outlet Sportmediaset, through Calcio Napoli 24, also reports that Napoli is open to a possible swap deal involving Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who has struggled to meet expectations since joining the Reds. Talks have reportedly been held between Napoli and Nunez’s representatives.
Despite Liverpool’s interest, Osimhen is said to be more attracted to Juventus’ long-term project. He has also turned down a massive £30 million-a-year offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal, choosing instead to continue his career in Europe.
Manchester United, another club reportedly interested in Osimhen, are also in talks with his representatives and are willing to pay his release clause. They are said to be ready to offer him a yearly salary of around £10.3 million.
However, Osimhen may not consider the move to United seriously as the club will not be playing in any European competition next season. That may give Liverpool an edge, if they choose to formally pursue the deal.
Regardless of where he goes next, Osimhen is expected to leave Napoli with a strong legacy. Since joining the club in 2020, he has scored 76 goals and provided 18 assists in 133 matches, helping Napoli win the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season.
